Too much politics all at once

Really, the regina mom thinks she should take up juggling.  She’d be good at it, given her propensity to deal with many things at once.  Oh, sure, the kids have moved out and she’s not juggling their lives in with hers as much as she used to, but it seems that other things have moved into her life and she’s throwing them around, too.

Last week, this ridiculous idea of a Public-Private Partnership (P3) that the HarperCons have set up to help their friends make more money municipalities deal with infrastructure issues, in this case Regina’s wastewater issues came to the fore.  In an email conversation with City Councillor Wade Murray, the regina mom learned that Councillor Murray doesn’t much like public involvement in such issues.  From that conversation:

I am open to dialog and learning of the alternatives, for until the moment the question is called, I reserve my decision. It’s unfortunate that people only get involved just before the decision is to be made. We have been discussing this for 2 years, it was a topic through the election, but no one really seemed to care at that time, all of a sudden it’s time to get involved.

the regina mom really doesn’t remember a single Councillor making an issue of this during the campaign, do you, dear Reader?  And now, at tonight’s Council meeting, they approved going ahead with it. Unanimously.

At close of business on Friday the Regina Board of Education announced via its Agenda for the Tuesday, February 26 meeting that it’s considering the wrecking ball for Ecole Connaught Community School, the oldest school in Regina that’s still used as a school.  the regina mom‘s kids attended there, as did her 86 year-old mother-in-law! The irony is that at tonight’s City Council meeting, the Connaught Centennial Committee and the kids who put on a spectacular array of events to celebrate the school’s 100th anniversary last year, received a Municipal Heritage Award.

Real Renewal, the group that came together a few years ago when school closures were all the rage has come forward to speak out against this ridiculous plan.  The group has raised questions in 13 different areas and, being the helpful political activist she is, the regina mom started a petition on Avaaz which you are welcome to sign.  At last look, there were 661 signatories on the petition requesting

That the Regina Board of Education delay the decision to demolish or retrofit Ecole Connaught Community School until the recommended studies and thorough and proper community consultation can be carried out.

It’s a long shot but here’s hoping that one of the oldest buildings in the city stands for many years to come.

And then there’s the Saskatchewan NDP Leadership contest, heading into the homestretch.  We on the Ryan Meili/Erin Weir team are working hard to GOTV, contacting hundreds of voters who have not yet cast their ballots.  It’s going to be close and thus, interesting, come the March 9 convention in Saskatoon.  We’ll either have the same-old New Democratic Party or we’ll have a New Democratic Party that will change the conversation in Saskatchewan politics.

On top of the political work the regina mom does, there’s her volunteer work with the Sage Hill Writing Experience and the Cathedral Village Arts Festival.  Oh, and her writing career!

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Celebrating The Harvest, The Equinox, The Arts

harvest salon posterWell, with a very sizzling summer salon behind us, the regina mom and friends are looking toward harvest.  We’re celebrating the harvest and the equinox and the arts with a Harvest Salon on Thursday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature readings by Lorna Crozier and Andrew Stubbs, music by The Canning Party and Bernadette & Jim as well as art by Kim Menzies.

Tickets are $25 Advance, $35 Door and only 25 are available.  Note that some proceeds from this event will be donated to the Literary Committee of the Cathedral Village Arts Festival.  Arrange to get your tickets by calling 306.550.7023 or order online, via Paypal. (Note that the payment will go to Jim.)

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About the featured artists…

crozier, with books Lorna Crozier‘s “first collection Inside in the Sky was published in 1976. Since then, she has authored 14 books of poetry, including The Garden Going on Without Us, Angels of Flesh, Angels of Silence, Inventing the Hawk, winner of the 1992 Governor-General’s Award, Everything Arrives at the Light, Apocrypha of Light, What the Living Won’t Let Go, and most recently Whetstone. Whether Lorna is writing about angels, aging, or Louis Armstrong’s trout sandwich, she continues to engage readers and writers across Canada and the world with her grace, wisdom and wit. She is, as Margaret Laurence wrote, “a poet to be grateful for.” “[1] We’re so happy to have her with us for this celebration!

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andrew stubbsAndrew Stubbs “is a prolific editor whose work includes Rhetoric, Uncertainty, and the University as Text, a collection of articles on writing and writing theory by Canadian and American compositionists. He co-edited The Other Harmony: The Collected Poetry of Eli Mandel, and published Myth, Origins, Magic, a study of Mandel’s poetics. Stubbs has published articles and reviews on literature, literary theory, psychoanalysis, and creative writing. His first poetry collection, White Light Primitive, was published by Hagios Press in Spring 2009.” [2] Thanks, Andy, for agreeing to join us!

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the canning partyThe Canning Party is a new Saskatchewan folk group consisting of Tanya Dahms, Scott Fulton, and Rob Cocarell. The three are eco-activist and long-time Regina jammers. Tracks from Cocarell’s last CD project with the group, Aref Sea, are online at CBC Radio 3. (I’m particularly diggin’ the track “River Flow” at the moment.)

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Bernadette & Jim is — you guessed it — the hubby and me!  I’ll share poetry from my collection and, perhaps, some new work.  Jim has more of his original songs (& guitar-work) to share.  And we do love to sing — old stuff and new work, too.  Who knows what we’ll cook up this time!

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kim menziesKim Menzies considers herself  “a self-taught artist.”  Of her recent work she says, “I have been experimenting with a myriad of acrylic mediums and paint combinations for the past two years. My experience has, without a doubt, been a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions. It has not only challenged me to step into a world where colour, shape and texture become a form of communication unto itself, it has challenged me to break down barriers that once defined my comfort zones.[3] Her artwork is featured on the cover of This hot place, my collection of poetry and we are grateful that she will hang a show for the salon.

Only 25 tickets available for this event, folks.  Get yours soon!